It’s high time tikiphiles had a morning drink of their own: a little Hair of the Mongoose from Humuhumu

"Have you seen this moai?" A limited-edition tiki mug for sale to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Each set of Citi Skyline cocktail glasses illustrates the view from afar of New York, London, Paris, and San Francisco.

Underhill Lounge takes the Savoy Cocktail Book out for a drink... the Fairbanks Cocktail (No. 1) made by Jennifer Colliau at San Francisco's Slanted Door.

Bursting with bright, spicy fruit, the 2005 Matteo Correggia Roero (about $20) achieves a fine balance. It's perfect with meaty or mushroom-y pastas, says the Los Angeles Times.

It's Day 1 of the 2008 Eat Local Challenge -- have you laid in your provisions yet? Food on the Food worries her initial stocking-up might not be enough.

Drinkhacker reviews the Smith Woodhouse Lodge Reserve, a rich and vibrant ruby Port, full of fruit and jam flavors. At $18, it's a winner.

Some drink syrups are simple to make, while others, like Orgeat, leave you cursing every known tiki bartender, dead or alive. (via Kaiser Penguin)

The Daily Green recounts how a wine-bottle manufacturer violated federal pollution laws, and questions whether glass packaging deserves its environmentally sound reputation.

The Fountain of Youth: Pomegranate and vodka in a martini glass topped with a splash of sparkling wine and garnished with a few blueberries.

"Ladies, fire up your brew pots and polish those carboys." The LA Times profiles homebrewing as the hot new female hobby.

NY Times' Eric Asimov celebrates Oktoberfest with a roundup of 24 samples of Märtzen, the traditional autumn beers of Germany.

Meet Albert Trummer, the Austrian-born impresario at Apotheke in Manhattan's Chinatown: "part lounge, part pharmacy, and part Cirque du Soleil."

Jon Bonne's online addendum to his SF Chronicle article highlights the non-Chardonnay offerings of three profiled wineries.

What cocktail connoisseur could resist the masculine Deco stylings of Ralph Lauren's Sayer Auto Cocktail Shaker?

The Orange Spur by PDT's Don Lee -- our pick for the best-looking entry in the Marie Brizard cocktail challenge.

Dispatches from the floor of the Bar Convent Berlin (Berlin Bar Convention) trade show.

Drinkhacker tastes the Glenlivet XXV, a 25-year scotch aged in oak and Oloroso Sherry casks. "Honey and flowers are on the nose, with heather, hay, and nuttiness immediately following."

The Kitchn marvels at Tonfisk's Newton cream-and-sugar set, which uses a gravity-based gizmo to keep the sugar from tumbling out.

Star Power -- 100% star-fruit juice, one of nature’s most potent and exotic sources of polyphenolic antioxidants and vitamin C. (via Beyond Drinks)

Underhill Lounge asks: "What’s not to love about a 'Cuban Manhattan'?"... better known as the Fair & Warmer Cocktail, 1/3 sweet vermouth, 2/3 rum, and a dash of curacao.

Smirnoff gets a makeover for the new Bond flick, "Quantum of Solace". (Wonder what it'd taste like mixed with Coke Zero Zero Seven?)

"Enough with this garbage!" exclaims Off the Presses, railing against excessive or overly-fussy garnishes that interfere with a drink's enjoyment.

Neyah White goes on the prowl for a bottle of Cougar bourbon.

Jeffrey Morgenthaler visits Berlin's Lebensstern to watch Thomas Pflanz in action, then explains the meaning of the Irish Goodbye.

Asahi introduces Ginger Draft, sort of a premixed shandy targeted at younger drinkers, complete with a J-Pop theme song by Anna Tsuchiya.

Scomorokh celebrates the rebirth of his blog with two of his favorite shooters, the Electric Banana and the Brave Bull.

Yo, check these limited edition Hennessy kicks by Jhung Yuro. Each $300 pair comes in a lizard-skin shoebox with a braided rope handle. (Cognac, alas, not included.)

Jeff Morgenthaler and Jay Hepburn (pictured) explore the liquor closet at Mixology magazine, where they discover 2,000 of their closest friends.

Cocktail Slut throws a punchbowl party -- an idea we're totally stealing for our next shindig -- letting guests pour their own Philadelphia Fish House Punch.

Brooklyn's Six Point Craft Ales' Hop Obama,
"an entirely unique ale that doesn't conform to traditional style guidelines."

"Gimme a Light!" Popular Science shows you how to turn your empties into something useful: solar-powered garden lanterns.

Plup, a new bottled water from Finland that's wearable, stackable, and -- best yet -- refillable!

Jamie Boudreau gives us the lowdown on Fee's new cherry bitters: "a strong, fruity flavor of the cherry and the cherry pit"

...and Rookie Libations takes a cue from Dr. Funk to create the Only Funkin': two kinds of rum, lemon, hibiscus grenadine, lemon, violet tea syrup, and pastis de violette.

A Mountain of Crushed Ice serves up a tiki classic called Dr. Funk, a potent mix of rum, lime, lemon, soda, and absinthe.

Ayyyy! asks you to raise your glasses to the hard drinking women of TV. Can you name them all?

Trockenbeerenauslese? (Ja!) The Kitchn deciphers German wine labels.

The Kitchn shines a spotlight on gin, with capsule reviews of DH Krahn, Hendrick's, G'Vine, Bulldog, and Plymouth.

Remember the Sungold Zinger? This savory-tart tomato cocktail is making its way around the blogosphere, this time at Felicia's Speakeasy.

Slashfood chalks up a brilliant product to make wine charms obsolete.

La Clandestine, a white Swiss absinthe, now available stateside with an $85 pricetag.

Dr. Bamboo obsessively documents the minute differences between tiki drink ice-cone shapes. He rewards fellow geeks with a recipe for Luau Grog.

Stephen Beaumont reminds us that "a drop of bitters adds a big dose of character" to drinks like the Manhattan.